Thread-unwinding device for sewing-machines



(No Model;) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. B. REIGH. THREAD UNWINDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 477,611. Patented June 21, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

MP3. REIGH.

THREAD UNWIND-ING DEVIOE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 477,611. Patented June 21, 1892.

n'rrnn STATES 1 ATENT union.

MARK B. REIGH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLI- MANTICLINEN COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

THREAD-UNWINDING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,611, dated June 21,1892. Application filed November 2, 1891. $erial No. 410,626. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK l3. REIGH, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Thread-Unwinders, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art canmake and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which amass of thread wound in any convenient form may be supported andcontrolled while the thread is being unwound, so as to provide for aneven tension of the thread, the device being applicable to any form ofmachine in which a supply of thread under an even tension is re quiredto be delivered to it.

To this end my invention consists in details of the several parts makingup the threadsupport and the tension mechanism, and in the combinationof such parts, as more particularly hereinafter described, and pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a detail plan view of an unwinderin the form especially adapted for use in connection with the McKayboot-sewing machine. Fig. 2 is a detail front view of the same with partof the box broken away to show construction. Fig. 3 is a detail end viewof the same with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail front view of amodified form of an unwinder embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a detailview, in central section, through the unwinder, showing the mass ofthread removed.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a frame, box, orbracket that is adapted to support a mass of thread I), that is woundeither upon a spool or upon a spindle c, the office of the part a beingto form a support for the mass of thread b while the latter is beingunwound. The structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings is oneparticularly adapted for use on a McKay boot-sewing machine, the boxbeing secured to the rotary table in a convenient position for supplyingthe thread to the needle of the machine. No part of such machine isshown in the drawings, as it is. only indirectly related to mywithin-described invention.

In the box a, at the opposite ends, sockets cl are provided for thereception of the ends of the spindle c, and such sockets are preferablymade in two sections, a part (1 being secured to the side of the box,while the other part (1 is formed in the end of a brake or clutch partc, which is pivoted to the side of the box in such position as to enablethe ends of the spindle that rest in the sockets to be held with africtional grasp between these two parts of the socket cl. This brake orclutch part c in the form shown in the drawings is a lever pivoted tothe side of the box or frame and having secured to the brake athread-support f, that extends from side to side of the box or frame inproper position to act as a guide and support for the thread as it isunwound from the mass. A spring 9 is attached to the box or frame a,with one arm thrusting against the lever e in such manner as to cause itto hold the mass of thread with a frictional grasp against uuwinding byholding the spool or spindle against a rotary movement in its hearingsor socket-supports. The other end g of the spring is in contact with abar h, that is adjustable by means of a thumb-screw 2', that passesthrough a threaded socket in the box and engagesthe bar in such manneras to enable a greater or less degree of tension to be put upon thespring g by turning the adjusting-screw 2'. The thread-support f has anoffset portion f, that controls the position of the thread as it isunwound from the mass and prevents it from moving so far to either endas to cause the thread to slip off the end upon the spindle, theshoulders in the offset portion being formed at points a less distanceapart than the length of the mass of thread, as clearly shown in Fig. 1of the drawings.

The operation of the device' is as follows: A mass of thread wound on aspindle is placed within the box or frame, with the ends of the spindleheld in the-sockets d, and the end of the thread is carried up on theinside of the thread-support, over it, and outward and to any pointwhere the thread is to be used, as to the needle of a sewing-machine.The pull upon the thread in such use in sewing acts upon thethread-support as on a lever and tends to release the grasp of the brakeupon the spindles to a degree that will enable the mass to revolve justas fast as the thread is needed in use; but the instant the tension isThe box shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the draw-1 ings is provided with acover a, and on the cover is mounted a releasing device 3', thatconsists of a bar j, having downturned ends 7' that project from thecover and bear cams that are adapted to engage the thread-support insuch manner that by depressing the releasing device the hold of thebrake or clutch upon the mass will be released, so that the mass ofthread will freely revolve and allow the thread to be used with veryslight resistance, this freedom of movement of the thread being neededwhen the first few stitches are being taken in beginning with a new end.This releasing device has a somewhat broad pad j in convenient positionon top of the box to be pressed upon by the hand of the operator of thesewing-machine, the box being, as already stated, secured to the frameof a bootsewing machinein convenientposition for use.

In the form of the invention embodied in the structure shown in Figs. 4and 5 a frame or bracket forms the immediate support for the tensionmechanism and for the mass of thread, and the method of operation issubstantially the same as that in the form of device already described.

The modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 differs fromthe form previously described mainlyin the fact that instead ofinclosing the mass of thread in a box it is supported by a frame orbracket in an exposed position; but the tension device 00 mprises,substantially, the same clamping-arms arranged to form apivot-bearingfor the spindle, and the adjusting means and threadguide are united tothe clamp in the manner substantially the same as in the first formdescribed.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with a frame adapted tosupport a mass of thread wound upon a spindle, the spindle-sockets (1,formed in part by the side of the support, with a socket part 61 formedin the end of the clutch part c, the spring-supported clutch part c, andthe threadsupport f, secured to the clutch parts eon opposite sides ofthe mass of thread and provided with an offset portion f, allsubstantially as described.

2. In combination with a case having a cover, the spindle-supportsformed within the case at opposite ends, the friction-clutches arrangedadjacent to said spindle-supports and forming part of thespindle-sockets, the adjustable clutch-springs, with means for adjustingthe tension of the same, the threadguide secured to the movable parts ofthe clutch and extending lengthwise of the mass of thread and having theoffset portion less in length than the mass of thread, and the clutchreleasing mechanism borne on the cover of the box and having thecam-shaped studs adapted to engage the thread-support, all substantiallyas described.

3. In combination with a case having a cover, the spindle-supportsformed within the case at opposite ends, the friction-clutches arrangedadjacent to said spindle-supports and forming part of thespindle-sockets, the adjustable clutch-springs. with means for adjustingthe tension of the same, the thread guide secured to the movable partsof the clutch and extending lengthwise of the mass of thread, and theclutch-releasing mechanism borne on the coverot' the box and having thecam-shaped studs adapted to engage the thread-support, all substantiallyas described.

MARK B. REIGH.

Witnesses:

CHAS. L. BURDETT, H. A. GIDDINGS.

